Arch Linux proposes switch to systemd

The developers of Arch Linux are discussing switching the distribution's default boot process from the current System V style implementation to systemd. Users can already install systemd alongside Arch's own init scripts, but the change would see the distribution adopt Lennart Poettering's tool for all of their images.

Many other Linux distributions have switched to systemd in recent times, including Fedora, openSUSE, Mandriva and Mageia. Debian has also debated using the system in the future. The one set of distributions prominently missing from the list are those based on Ubuntu, with Canonical preferring to use its own upstart utility for its distribution.

The systemd tool was written by Red Hat developer Lennart Poettering with the aim of creating what he describes as a modern boot system for Linux. It is designed to start many services in parallel by eliminating inter-process dependencies within the boot process. This speeds up booting and makes the mechanism more flexible, but systemd has also been criticised for being too complicated and potentially affecting system stability.

Users interested in trying out systemd independent of the outcome of the developer's discussions can find instructions on the project's wiki on how to install and run it on their Arch system.

See also:

• Control Centre: The systemd Linux init system, a feature from The H.
  
• Booting up: Tools and tips for systemd, a feature on The H.
  

(fab)